Strap and method of making the same



17, 1937. M. EPSTEIN 2,090,442

STRAP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Jan. 11, 1.936 2 Sheets-Sheet l f1 .2. K r 9 F A v A J a 1 I 6 K g 7 3 \2 b f a 3 R i is 5 I\ Ii 8 5 4b 2 3a 4b g 5 "c 1 I I I I I I I I I I M. EPSTEIN STRAP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Aug. 17, 1937.

Filed Jan. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 wu c/wtoc Max Epsiein,

Patented Aug. 17, 1937 FTUNITED STATES.

FATE

r orrics STRAP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Max Epstein, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Hickok Manufacturing Company,

1110., Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 11, 1936, Serial No. 58,752

6 Claims.

transversely through the edging elements into the body with those portions of the stitching elements extending into the body being concealed therein.

Another object of the invention resides in the 5 provision of a strap for various purposes, preferably one for use in the making of belts, suspenders, garters and the like for personal wear and in which the edging elements are of the same or contrasting color with relation to the 4 body of the strap and which are secured to the strap body in a firm and substantial manner, such as to effectively prevent disconnection of the edging elements at spaced points along the longitudinal edges of the strap body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap including a body member having an edging element secured thereto by stitching or other securing means extending transversely through the edging element into the body with those pori tions of the seeming means extending inwardly beyond the edging element being concealed Within the body member.

One method carried out in the production of the present strap resides in the provision of a strip of sheet material consisting first in securing to one face of the sheet material at spaced points from the side edges thereof longitudinaliy disposed bead or edging elements or strips defining the width of the strap, then folding the side portions of the sheet material rearwardly or for wardly with the beads or edging elements disposed outwardly along the folded lines, and finally securing the folded side portions together.

With the above and other objects in view, both as to the strap as an article of manufacture and terial illustrating a plurality. of edging beads or elements secured thereto prior to folding the sheet material into strap formation and with the filler strip omitted.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view onthe line 5 2'-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the filler strip applied; prior to folding the sheet material into strap formation.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing 10 the finished strap.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front View of the strap.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear view of the strap.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of the invention; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary front'and rear views respectively of the modified form of strap.

Fig. 10 illustrates a strip of sheet material for the making of another modified form of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a complete strap. formed in the use of two of the strips such as the one illustrated in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12' is a transverse'sectional View of the strap illustrated in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional View of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional View of still another modification of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the reference character A indicates, generally, asheet of flexible fibrous or other suitable pliable material to one face of which is secured spaced, parallel, ornamental beads or edging elements I and 2 which may be secured by stitching 3 and 4, respectively, or in any other suitable manner. These beads or ofbraids or cords as shown, or otherwise formed.

as will be understood from a modified form of the invention to be hereinafter described, and they are preferably of a color contrasting with the color of the body portion of the strap. Whatever the securing connection forthese edging elements l and 2, they are arrangedv within the longitudinal edges of the sheet material A, dividing the sheet material into an intermediate portion 5 and side flap portions 6 and 1.. The stitching 3 and 4 preferably extends transversely through the edging elements and the sheet material, as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3.

A fibrous or other pliable filler strip is indicated by the reference character 8 and which, if used, is preferably secured adhesively or otherwise to the rearor back of the sheet material A and has a width for disposition between the lines of stitching 3 and 4, as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

After the securing ofthe edging elements I and 2 and the filler strip 8 on the sheet material A, the side flaps B and I are folded backwardly alongthe lines of stitching 3 and 4, constituting rear flaps having a combined width of substantially the width of the intermediate or front portion 5 of the strap and secured together at their substantially abutting longitudinal free edges in any suitable manner, one means of such connection being effected by zigzag stitching 9.

The flaps 6 and I are adhesively or otherwise secured to the core or filler strip 8, the latter adhered to or otherwise connected to the back of the front portion 5, forming a belt or other strap of requisite thickness and strength for any purpose for which the strap may be intended for use. If desired, the filler strip 8 may be loosely inserted in the envelope formed by the sheet material after the formation of the latter into the strap and in fact, the filler strip may be eliminated from the structure, if desired, and the flaps 6 and I sewed together and free of the intermediate or front portion 5 or the flaps may be secured thereto by adhesion or otherwise, as may be preferred.

In Figs. '7, 8 and 9 there is shown a modified form of the invention in which the edging elements I and 2 are of leather and which. has a flexible or pliable core II] of suitable material and wherein the flaps 6' and I, corresponding with the aforesaid flaps 6 and I, constitute the front, rather than the back of the strap, with their free longitudinal edges spaced slightly apart and connected together by any suitable leather or other strip II sewed or otherwise secured to the flaps, as indicated at I2, the stitching I2 passing through the strip II, the core ID if used and through the intermediate portion 5 of the sheet material. This modified form of the invention is otherwise the same as the first form described both as to article and method of producing the same and if desired, the free longitudinal edges of the flaps 6 and I may abut rather than be spaced slightly from each other. The edging elements I and 2 and the connecting strip II are preferably of a color contrasting with the color of the back and flaps in this modified form of strap.

It has been found in practice that a strap constructed as described and formed by the method referred to results in the production of a highly o satisfactory strap, one wherein the connection of the edging strips is an effective one, not liable am enabled to make the side flaps of equal or,

unequal width and I am also enabled to dispose the edgings centrally between the front and rear faces of the straps or projecting evenlylaterally of the front and rear sides of the strap,

depending upon the diameter or thickness of the edging elements, and in the use of edgings whether of a. diameter or thickness less than the thickness. of the strap, I am. enabled to; dispose the edging elements offset forwardly from the front or rear of the strap for ornamental arposes and yet not interfere with a substantial and effective connection of the edging elements With the body of the strap. The stitching employed is preferably of a color the same as the color of the edging elements so that the stitching is practically imperceptible to the naked eye 7 1 where the stitching appears at the outer surface of each edging element. All of the stitching for this connection is confined or concealed within the edging elements and the body of the strap except for that part of the stitching only which is to be found on the outer surface of the edging elements.

In Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, there is illustrated another modification of the invention, in which the strap body is composed of a plurality of lon-. gitudinally arranged body members I3, I4 and I5. Each of the outermost straps I3 and I5 is formed from a strip of sheet material A to which is secured along the outer longitudinal edges thereof edging elements I6 and I1, respectively. These edging elements I6 and I! are connected to the sheet material A in the same manner as in the first form described, after which the sheet material is folded upon itself to form the two-ply outermost members I3 and. I5. A filling member I8 is arranged between the plies constituting the members I3 and I5 and which filling member I8, if used, will be placed between the plies substantially throughout the widths thereof and secured therein in any suitable manner. The intermediate body member I4, in this particular form of the invention, is in the nature of a braid and it is secured to the inner longitudinal edges of the body members I3 and I5 by means of zigzag or other stitching I9 or in anyother suitable manner. The braid I4 forms a substantially flexible longitudinal connection between the outermost body members I3 and I5,

mental strap for belts, suspenders, braces, garters, or other articles of wearing apparel. I also contemplate that in the separate formation of the body members I3 and I5 that in the use of each they need not necessarily be connected together as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, but either one of these body members I3 and I5 maybe used for apparel or other edging purposes as may be desired.

In Fig. 13, the body members, I3 and I5 with their edging elements I6 and II, respectively, may be formed in the same manner as that described with relation to the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive. The only material difference between the form of invention shown in Fig. 13 as compared with the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 0 to 12, inclusive, goes to the character of the intermediate body member I4, as compared with the intermediate body member I4 of Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive. In Fig. .13, the intermediate body member I4 is preferably of solid material of strip formation and has bulging front and rear faces which are convex in formation and which project slightly beyond the opposite fiat faces of the strap, as illustrated. The connection between this member I4 and the outermost body members I3 and I 5 is effected by zigzag or other stitching I9 or in any other suitable manner. 5

The result of the particular formations of straps shown in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, is that reversible belts are provided and as the intermediate body member I4 is of a color preferably contrasting with the color of the body members I3 and I5, effective ornamental strap members are provided for purposes stated herein. In Fig. 14, the body members It and M are formed from strips of sheet material folded but in a manner slightly different from the folding of the outermost strap or body members of the form shown in Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, and Fig. 13. Each of the members l3 and M have edging elements I 6 and N respectively, but as clearly shown in Fig. 14, the front flap portions of the folded body members l3 and I 'l terminate short of the edges of the opposite flaps of said members to provide a. longitudinal recess 20 adapted to receive a longitudinal body member 2| which is secured in said recess 20 and to the body members I3 and M and the latter also connected together by means of zigzag or other stitching 22 or otherwise as may be desired. The intermediate body member 2| is preferably of contrasting color with relation to the color of the outermost body members 3 and I 4 and, like the intermediate body member Hi, may be the same in color as the edging elements or contrast in color with relation thereto.

In all forms of the invention the fastening means for the edging elements are practically entirely concealed within the edging elements and the body members. The stitching type of securing means is preferably of the color of the edging elements and the only portion of the stitching threads exposed to view are those portions at the outer surface of the edging elements, the remaining portions of the stitching threads being concealed within the edging elements and Within the respective body members, resulting in an attractive strap formation in which zigzag stitching or other securing means for the edging elements is practically hidden from View, being confined and concealed within the strap structure except, as stated, for those portions of stitching threads at the outer surface of the edging elements and which being of a color corresponding to the color of the edging elements are practically imperceptible to the naked eye. The result is a neat finish and an attractive article and one in which there is little or no danger of the edging elements becoming detached at spaced points throughout the length of the strap.

What is claimed is:-

1. A method of forming straps for various articles consisting in first attaching to one face of a strip of sheet material at points spaced from the side edges thereof longitudinal edging elements defining the width of the strap, then folding the side portions of the strip backwardly upon the body of the strap with the edging elements adjacent the fold lines, and finally securing the folded side portions of the strip together.

2. The herein described method of forming an F ornamental strap which consists in securing upon a flat body of foldable material a pair of parallel spaced apart strips of edging material dividing said fiat material into a body portion between the edging strips and side flaps beyond the edging strips and then folding the side portions backwardly upon the body portion along the lines defined by the edging strips, and finally securing the said side portions in folded position.

3. A strap comprising a strap body including sheet material folded longitudinally at each side edge of the strap body to provide closed longitudinal side edges, and edging elements secured to the closed longitudinal edges of the strap body by stitching extending transversely through the edging elements into the body at the lines of fold of the body with those portions of the stitching extending inwardly beyond the edging elements concealed within the folds of the strip of sheet material, said edging elements being arranged exteriorly of the folds of the strap body in the plane of the latter and forming transverse extensions of the strap body.

4. A strap comprising a strap body including a strip of sheet material folded longitudinally at the side edges of the strap body to provide closed longitudinal side edges thereat, a filler strip arranged within the folds of said material, and edging elements secured to the closed longitudinal edges of the strap body by stitching extending through the edging elements into the body and terminating short of the edges of the filler strip and having those portions of the stitching which extend inwardly beyond the edging elements into the body concealed from View, said edging elements being arranged exteriorly of the folds of the strap body in the plane of the latter and forming transverse extensions of the body.

5. A strap including a strap body comprising outer longitudinal strips of sheet material folded longitudinally at the side edges of the strap body to provide closed edges at the side edges of the strap body and an intermediate ornamental longitudinal strip arranged between the outer longitudinal strips in abutting relation to the longitudinal edges of each of said outer strips, stitching securing the edges of each outer longitudinal strip to each other and to the adjacent side edge of the intermediate strip, and edging elements secured to the closed side edgesof the strap body by stitching extending transversely through the edging elements into the body at the lines of fold of the outer longitudinal strips with those portions of the stitching extending inwardly beyond the edging elements concealed within the folds of the outer longitudinal strips of sheet material, said edging elements being arranged exteriorly of the folds of said outer strips in the plane of the latter and forming transverse extensions of the strap body.

6. A strap including a strap body comprising outer longitudinal strips of sheet material folded longitudinally at the side edges of the strap body to provide closed side edges thereat and to form front and rear flaps, the rear flaps being extended beyond the front flaps and arranged in abutting relation and the edges of the front flaps being spaced apart to provide a front recess, an ornamental intermediate strip secured in the recess at the front of the strap body, and edging elements secured to the closed side edges of the strap body by stitching extending transversely through the edging elements into the body at the lines of fold of the outer longitudinal strips with those portions of the stitching extending inwardly beyond the edging elements concealed within the folds of the outer longitudinal strips of sheet material, said edging elements being arranged exteriorly of the folds of said outer strips in the plane of the latter and forming transverse extensions of the strap body.

MAX EPSTEIN. 

